Burn Those Who Burned Me novel Chapter 222

Chapter 222

Chapter 16: The wronged genius.

Joshua sat in silence as he waited for Marlon to explain what was going on with his cousin.

“Remember when we were in college and I used to get those homemade caramel salted cookies that you loved to steal so much?”

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Joshua had a quick flashback of their days in college. Every year right before the holiday break, a shipment of caramel salted cookies would be delivered to Marlon for him and his roommate. Because of how good the cookies were, he’d naturally assumed Marlon’s grandmother was the baker.

“I remember the cookies your grandmother used to bake for you AND your roommate…I.E. me….I.E.; that’s not stealing.”

Marlon let out a light chuckle.

“My grandmother wasn’t the one that made those cookies…it was my little cousin…..Josie. She’s also the one that made those blueprints and sketches.”

Joshua’s eyes widen. He’d vaguely remembered Marlon telling him about a younger cousin when they first met; but she would have been like fifteen when he first came to the university.

“Wait…you’re telling me someone had those type of baking skills as a teenager?? I’m confused here Marlon…are you trying to warn me about something or get me to ask for her hand in marriage?”

At this rate, if Marlon revealed one more skill about the girl; Joshua would be outside her door with a speaker box above his head.

Marlon laughed aloud at his friend’s comment.

“No…that’s not it…”

“So then just tell me what firm she works for and I’ll fig-”

“Josie doesn’t work a firm.”

Joshua’s brows furrowed. Now that was something he found hard to believe. As talented as she was….there a million firms that would have killed to have her on their team.

“Why wasn’t she picked up by a firm?”

Marlon swallowed hard as he looked his friend directly in the eye.

“Because she just got out of prison.”

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He knew he heard Marlon, he just couldn’t believe WHAT he heard! Prison!! For what!! For how long??? What the hell was going on! Joshua stood up quickly, and as fast as he got excited, it only took half that time for it vanish. The board would have a field day about this! Hiring a felon! Joshua could see his dream resort slowly fading away! ‘Maybe whatever she did wasn’t that bad?‘ Joshua thought to himself as he started strategizing how he would sell it to the board. Sitting back in chair, he took a swig of his whiskey before speaking…there may still be a chance.

“What was she in prison for? Nothing serious ri-”

“Vehicular manslaughter due to drunk driving.”

Chance shattered.

Convincing the board to hire a felon would have already been a battle, there was no way in hell he would be able to convince them to hire a murder! Not to mention…his grandmother! The company and family image meant everything to her. If she found out he’d hired someone as careless as a murdering drunk driver….she might actually

appoint her husband’s bastard child as CEO afterall.

Joshua could feel a headache brewing…why would Marlon do this to him! Give him this gleam of hope only to snatch it away.

“Marlon…why would you even show me this?”

Guilt in his tone, Marlon tried to explain.

“Because I needed you to see her work first.”

“Why! So you could trick me into hiring her! What did you think…that I would be so blown away I wouldn’t care! She’s a

murd-”

“My cousin is innocent!”

Marlon stood directly in Joshua’s face. He could understand why his friend would be upset; giving the circumstances…who wouldn’t be. But he wouldn’t allow him to speak ill of Josie. She’d already been through too

much.

Joshua stood back stunned. It was understandable for Marlon to feel this way…after all…she was his only family….but the fact remained she was convicted of vehicular homicide which meant he couldn’t work with her. Taking a deep breath, he began to explain.

“Look Mar…I get she’s your cousin…and I know we all want to think highly of our family, but you’ve got to face facts she-”

“I’m not saying she’s Innocent because she’s my cousin! I’m saying she’s innocent because it’s the truth! Look…I get how this is hard to believe…but if you’d just listen to me for ONE MOMENT…I can explain everything.”

Joshua looked at Marlon as if he had three heads…what could he possibly say that would explain all of this. He was about to refuse when his eyes glanced over at the blueprints still on the table,

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‘Shit…guess this is the werewolf part.‘

Joshua reluctantly sat down to listen to Marlon. For those designs…he’d be opened.

Marlon let out a sigh of relief; sitting back in his chair. He began to tell his friend the harrowing story of Josie

Taylor.

Joshua sat in silence….stunned was the better term. After Marlon finished telling him about Josie, he could hardly believe his ears. It all sounded like some horrible soap opera horror. Learning she was the long lost daughter of the Taylors…one the region’s most prominent families. Learning they treated her like that. Their own daughter! Using her grandmother’s illness to cover the crimes of their adoptive daughter…who does that!

Joshua got up to pour himself another drink. Had he known today would be filled with all this drama he would have brought some harder liquor to the office.

“Are you bullshitting me in an attempt to cover for your cousin?”

Joshua had to ask…she was Marlon’s family after all…people protect their families. Lord knows he watched his grandfather do that same thing for his uncle. No matter how much James screwed up, his grandfather would come

up with a million excuses.

Marlon nodded his head. If only it were that simple…that he was merely covering for his cousin. Then that would

have meant all the horror she endured wasn’t true. But that just wasn’t the case.

“Honestly Josh…I wish that were the case…that I’m lying to protect her image. That she hadn’t gone through all those years of abuse and torment. But unfortunately…that isn’t the case. My cousin really is innocent. She has a solid alibi for the day of the accident. Not to mention, Josie doesn’t drink, and she doesn’t drive.”

“Shit.”

“Yeah.”

“Well…now I see why you wanted my mind to be opened.”

Suddenly, a thought occurred to Joshua.

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